|
safe & friendly dog chews & toys With all toys, supervise your dog the first time you give it to them. You want to make sure your dog does not become aggressive, shows guarding instincts, or ingests pieces of the toy when presented with it for play. Although all of these toys are safe and healthy, this list is by no means the extent of healthy, fun toys for your dog. The market is continually bringing more new and improved toys to us! Here are some of my recommended favorites. (Tried and true tested on my own Siam and Gunnar!) |
|
|
Chews Compressed Rawhide - It's just what it sounds like: rawhide that has been compressed, molded and shaped into fun chew toys. It is much more difficult to gnaw off a large piece of this than a regular rawhide. Supervision is suggested, particularly with aggressive chewers. |
 |
| Gummabones,
Nylabones, Greenies - Some varieties are edible and your dog
will ingest 100% -- others are longer lasting. They are not actually
made of bone, therefore they cannot splinter, nor can your dog break
off a piece that is too large to swallow and choke on it. All in all,
they offer solutions for gnawers who need chewing satisfaction! If
your dog looses interest it's possible the flavor has grown weak.
Try soaking these bones in chicken or beef broth to make them tasty
again. Edible versions are a safe alternative to chicken, steak, or any other bone, they are satisfying, tasty, and last longer, I recommend these. Not recommended for heavy jawed, aggressive chewers as sometimes they can bite off a piece with sharp edges that can cause damage in the mouth and throat. Generally, most dogs enjoy these chews safely. |
 |
| Meat Bones (Pork, Ham, Chicken, Beef) - Sterilized bones bought from a pet store are acceptable chews. Raw, cooked and unsterilized bones can splinter, causing injury to your dog. Stff with you rdog's favorite snack for an enriching challenge. |  |
| Rawhide - is not recommended due to lodging in your dog's throat or digestive tract. |  |
| Rope Toys - can help keep plaque build-up at bay on your dog's teeth. These should be given after your puppy/dog has an understanding that this rope is acceptable to chew on, unlike the rope rug in your living room! But under supervision your puppy will love teething on one of these if you soak it in water and freeze it. |  |
|
|
|
|
Enrichment Toys Stuff-a-ball- This durable rubber hollow toy holds your dog's favorite treats that are easily released when bounced around. It's also got ridges so your dog can carry it in his/her mouth. (Doing this can help clean your dog's teeth.) They're fun to play fetch with and they're even dishwasher safe! |
 |
|
|
|
|
Others Kong - This snowman-shaped, hollow, rubber toy is great to stuff with all sorts of yummy treats! Many dogs are highly entertained just tossing it around. These toys are fun to play fetch with, as their bounce is as unpredictable as a live animal. Red for normal chewers; Black for heavy jawed chewers like Rottweilers, Labs, Pit Bulls and the like. |
 |
| Plush and/or Squeak Toys - are best used interactively unless you can trust your dog will not rip the toy apart and eat the phantom squeaker... or any other part of the toy for that matter. In general, these are potentially hazardous for aggressive chewers. However, you know your dog best and if you can trust your dog will not ingest the toy, but merely chew on, or destroy it, then plush toys are great fun. Used interactively and/or under supervision most dogs will do okay with plush toys. Be sure to throw away pieces that come apart from the toy. For puppies, these are not recommended as your pup will not know the difference between his/her nice plush toy and your child's stuffed toys, your socks, rugs, cushions, pillows and shoes. Until puppies know the difference between what's yours and what's theirs, these should be avoided. |  |
| Tennis Balls - Quite possibly the best fetch toy ever created! The only down side to these pertains to chewers. The fuzz on tennis balls is not safe to ingest, and the rough texture wears dog's teeth down. Use a tennis ball strictly as an interactive toy, not a chew toy, and it will remain one of your dogs most prized activities. |  |
| Treat Ball or Block - Filled with kibble and small crunchy treats these fun-filled, mental stimulating toys can keep your dog occupied for a long time! The amount of treats dispersed is adjustable. Start out easy and as your dog gets more skilled, raise the difficulty level. It's like going from single digit addition to double digit addition. |  |
|
|
|
|
The final note on toys is... vary your use of chews and toys frequently. If this is not done, your dog will become bored, leading to mischievous and destructive behavior. A tired, entertained dog makes for a happy owner!
Home
| Biography | Programs
| Group
Classes | Training
Tips | Glossary
|
|
